Dublin man charged with stabbing Italian tourist

A 20-year-old Dublin man has been remanded in custody pending trial for an alleged knife attack.

Gary Dreaper is accused of stabbing 41-year-old Italian tourist Moreno Franchetta, on the O’Donovan Rossa Bridge in Dublin, close to the Four Courts, in what has been alleged as an “unprovoked assault”.

Dreaper, of no fixed abode, was brought before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court yesterday afternoon where Garda Stephen King of The Bridewell Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He told Judge Walsh he charged the accused at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.17am.

He said the accused made "no reply" when the charge was put to him. The defendant has not yet indicated how he will plead.

Judge Walsh noted the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment and said due to the "seriousness of the alleged assault" he refused to grant Dreaper bail.

He remanded the defendant in custody for seven days to appear before Cloverhill District Court next Thursday.